Chartwells, Compass Group UK & Ireland’s specialist provider of catering to schools, academies, colleges and universities, has been awarded a contract worth £35 million by Lewisham Council to provide school meals to 67 schools across Lewisham.
Chartwells first won the contract to provide school meals to Lewisham in 1999 and since has worked to constantly evolve and update its school meals offer, reflecting the changing needs of children whilst maintaining its commitment to delivering great tasting healthy food. This ongoing commitment will see Chartwells further improve the variety of meals it provides, by investing in research with school children across Lewisham to get their feedback and develop new ideas.
Food Superheroes
Lewisham primary schools will benefit from refreshed lunchtime menus that have been redesigned to appeal to 4-11 year-olds, with the introduction of the Food Superheroes to enhance nutritional education and help sustain and increase school meal uptake. The character designs were shared with over 25,000 youngsters across Chartwells’ local authority contracts, who picked their favourite design concepts.
Each character demonstrates the nutritional benefits of the produce they represent: Brains the broccoli promotes the importance of brain food, with broccoli being a great source of iron; and Doc the kiwi fruit highlights the importance of food that boosts the immune system.
Lewisham Training Kitchen
In May 2014, Chartwells worked in partnership with Lewisham Council to launch the Lewisham Training Kitchen within the Green Man Community Centre in south Lewisham. A full calendar of events to encourage schools and local residents to use the facilities has been created and information can be found on the new website (www.lewishamtrainingkitchen.com).The kitchen has become a hub for the local community and Chartwells will look to further invest in these facilities so that groups of all ages can continue to learn vital cookery skills.
The contract employs over 400 employees most of whom are local residents, delivering catering services to 67 Lewisham schools. As part of this contract, Chartwells will be offering three apprenticeships a year to Lewisham residents, working with volunteers within the Training Kitchen and creating at least 20 work experience opportunities for students during the contract term.
Robin Mills, Managing Director of Chartwells commented: “We are thrilled to continue working with Lewisham. This is an important contract to us and we have worked hard to meet their specific needs and requirements. Our team have built a unique relationship with the Council here since 1999, based on trust, shared objectives and mutual respect.
“I think our eagerness to support the local community and bring innovation and fresh ideas to the table, such as our free porridge breakfast initiative, all worked in our favour. Our commitment to apprenticeship schemes and our management of the Lewisham Training Kitchen, which has become a real hub for the local community, also helped ensure we successfully retained this contract.”
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